The French government has announced new measures to simplify the administrative procedures for obtaining and renewing residence permits for international students. The reform aims to reduce the stress of bureaucracy and allow students to focus on their academic success. The changes were announced by Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez and Minister of Higher Education Philippe Baptiste on September 30. The new measures are expected to benefit students from around the world, including those from Algeria.
One of the key changes is the introduction of a residence permit that covers the entire duration of a student's studies, valid until December 31 of the year they obtain their diploma. This aims to secure students' pathways and facilitate their transition to a doctorate, research, or the job market. Additionally, the number of documents required for renewal has been reduced, and students will only need to provide the same documents they submitted for their initial application.
The French government is also strengthening support for international students by establishing "international mobility centers" within universities and schools. These centers will provide personalized support to students in tracking their applications. The new measures build on existing efforts to simplify the residence permit process, including the automatic renewal of instruction prolongation attestations since May 4, 2026.
The validity period of biometric data has also been extended from 5 to 10 years, reducing the need for students to visit prefectures. Furthermore, the administration is phasing out the old AGDREF software, which has been plagued by technical issues, and transitioning to a new platform to improve the processing of applications.
To address the backlog of applications, the government has allocated the equivalent of 500 full-time positions and additional hours to prefectures. The goal is to increase the processing rate and significantly reduce delivery delays. The new measures are expected to benefit not only students but also the education sector as a whole.
The changes reflect the government's efforts to make France a more attractive destination for international students. By streamlining administrative procedures, the government hopes to encourage more students to pursue their studies in France. The measures are also expected to improve the overall experience of international students in France.
The new residence permit rules will apply to all international students in France, providing them with more flexibility and security as they pursue their studies. The French government's efforts to simplify administrative procedures for international students have been welcomed by student organizations and educational institutions.
Key points
- France introduces new residence permit rules for international students
- Measures aim to simplify administrative procedures and reduce bureaucracy
- Changes include extended validity of biometric data and streamlined application process
